Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Lance Halcom

Bryan Kenneth Baskin

Frank Paul D'Anna

David H Hunter

David A Darrow, Jr

Leonard J Doolin

Ron William Waldo

Joshua Richards

David A Darrow

Kristopher Michael Haydel

Frank P D'anna

A rotor actuation system includes a swashplate assembly comprised of a stationary swashplate and a rotating swashplate operatively connected together for relative rotation about a rotor axis. A cyclic actuator is operatively connected to the stationary swashplate to tilt the swashplate assembly off axis from the rotor axis for cyclic control. A collective actuator is operatively connected to the swashplate assembly to move the swashplate axially along the rotor axis for collective control. The cyclic actuator and the collective actuator are operatively connected to the swashplate assembly to respectively actuate cyclic and collective control independent of one another.

Separation of collective and cyclic actuation

A rotor assembly includes a rotor hub which rotates about a hub rotation axis and a blade connected to the rotor hub. The blade rotates with the rotor hub around the hub rotation axis, and the blade is configured to rotate around a pitch rotation axis of the blade to adjust a pitch of the blade. The rotor assembly includes a pitch horn having a first end rotatably connected to the blade. The pitch horn is configured to rotate with the blade around the pitch rotation axis of the blade to adjust the pitch of the blade, and the pitch horn is configured to rotate relative to the blade around a pitch horn pivot axis arranged at a non-parallel angle relative to the pitch rotation axis of the blade.

Rotor blade pitch horn assembly

A connector assembly to connect a swashplate and a rotor shaft or hub is provided. The connector assembly includes a mount configured to fixedly connect to the rotor shaft or hub, a sleeve pivotably attached to the mount, and a translating element translationally retained within the sleeve and configured to engage with the swashplate such that the swashplate and the rotor shaft or hub rotate at the same rotational speed.

Connector assembly for rotor head swashplate

A tension torsion strap by which a blade is connectable with a hub of a propulsor is provided. The tension torsion strap includes an elongate body formed to define attachment features at opposite ends thereof, the attachment features being connectable to the blade at one of the opposite ends and to the hub at the other of the opposite ends, fibrous materials extending along the elongate body and around the attachment features and pretension flanges elastically interposable between the hub and the elongate body. The pretension flanges are configured to maintain pretension in the fibrous materials above a predefined pretension level when the attachment features are connected to the blade and the hub.

Tension torsion strap

A diverter duct for a propeller includes a second duct element having a semi-annular wedge shape, which is pivotably coupled to the first duct element, a first drive structure configured to drive a pivoting of the second duct element relative to the first duct element and a second drive structure configured to drive a rotation of the first and second duct elements about an axis of rotation of the propeller.

Propeller diverter duct

A rod and bracket assembly includes a bracket with a rod connected to the bracket via a fastener extending through a bracket hole. A bushing assembly is positioned at the bracket hole and includes a bushing having a bushing flange and a wear pad positioned between the bushing flange and an inner face of the bracket to prevent wear of the bracket and/or the rod in the event that the rod rolls about its own axis. A clevis assembly for a clevis and rod assembly includes a clevis having one or more clevis legs extending from a clevis base and a bushing assembly located at a clevis hole. The bushing assembly includes a bushing having a bushing flange and a wear pad disposed between the bushing flange and an inner face of the clevis leg to prevent wear of the clevis leg and/or the rod assembly.

Rod end wear prevention

A control link disposed to transfer rotor shaft rotation from an elongate element rotatable with a shaft to a rotatable element is provided and includes a structure terminating at a first end thereof as a mating element, which is securable to the elongate element such that the elongate element is rotatable about an axis defined through the mating element and such that a moment reaction in opposition to structure rotation about the elongate element is generated and a rod coupled to the rotatable element being and configured to be coupled to a second end of the structure at variable distances relative to the rotatable element.

Adjustable scissor control link

A proximity sensor valve includes a housing which defines a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with a cavity. A plunger pin within the cavity for movement along an axis, the plunger pin movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The plunger pin extends at least partially outward of said housing at the fully extended position. A spool is within the cavity for movement along the same axis as the plunger pin, such that the spool and the plunger pin are movable with respect to each other to control fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

Growing community of inventors

Coppell, TX, United States of America

Lance Halcom